Because the casual-dining scene is ever-evolving, we turned to Beth Stallings, editor of
Crave, a quarterly magazine published by The Dispatch Printing Company (which also
publishes
The Dispatch) for ideas.

Stallings offers 10 suggestions — all of which have opened in the past 12 months — to whet a
variety of appetites.

Randy and Tina Corbin, owners of the Rossi, Club 185, Little Palace and El Camino Inn, knew
Philco was exactly what the Short North neighborhood needed — a casual spot with good food at
wallet-friendly prices. The menu was crafted by the Rossi chef Andrew Smith, who pulled familiar
dishes from his Southern childhood and re-envisioned them into diner-friendly staples. So there are
hush puppies, chicken with maple-ricotta cornbread, johnnycake sliders with pulled pork and
buttermilk biscuits served on their own, covered in gravy or in a breakfast sandwich. Added bonus:
The sleek gray-and-green diner serves breakfast all day. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
daily.

The Crest Gastropub

2855 Indianola Ave., 614-261-7128

Completely overhauled into a Clintonville neighborhood gem, the Crest, which opened in April, is
another highlight of the local gastropub scene. At the bar, you’ll find more than 50 drafts plus a
list of specialty cocktails crafted by Annie Williams, such as the Claire Patrice with Oyo Stone
Fruit Vodka, Watershed Bourbon Barrel Gin, fresh grapefruit juice, Lillet Blanc and bitters. Chef
Dustin Brafford crafts snacks, sandwiches, salads and burgers to be paired with beers — such as
barbecue pulled pork sliders with a Brothers Drake Mead sauce or the lamb burger with mint, feta
and tzatziki. If you can, grab a seat on the patio and pay attention to what’s growing in the
planter boxes (the Crest also boasts a rooftop garden) because some of the bounty might be on your
plate. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

Billed more as a bar that serves food than a restaurant, Local Cantina is a kitschy Mexican spot
serving no-frills renditions of tacos, fajitas and quesadillas alongside a hearty list of craft
beers and serve-yourself chips. It’s gringo food, as owner George Tanchevski calls it — it’s not
meant to be authentic, just meant to satisfy. And it does. Don’t pass on the fish taco with cabbage
slaw and chipotle cream. Dishes are made fresh daily, and so is the salsa. Opened last fall, the
Grandview Avenue location proved so popular that Tanchevski — who also owns Aladdin’s and Local Bar
— opened a second Local Cantina in Gahanna in June. Hours vary, call for more information.

Among the leaders in the growing gastropub niche is the popular 101 Beer Kitchen, which opened
last October. It’s worth the sometimes-long wait — this is when the 20-tap beer selection really
comes in handy — for chef Thad Kittrell (the co-owner with his wife, Jessica) and his upscale pub
grub, most of it inspired by beer and less than $16. Think house-made soft pretzels with
beer-cheese spread, mussels steamed in hefeweizen (unfiltered wheat beer), and beer-battered perch
sandwiches. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

Owners Mollie and Kelly Fankhauser have been baking mini cupcake treats for years in
traditionally spun flavors such as Angry Buckeye (the classic combo, only spicy); S’more, with a
graham-cracker bottom and a marshmallow topping; Chocolate “Chip,” a potato-chip cake with
chocolate frosting. The trendy brick-and-mortar store, which opened in April, sells out on a
regular basis. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

Former DeepWood sous-chef Colin Vent has formed a team with business partners Collin Castore,
Jen Burton and Travis Spencer to launch the brewery in December. The brewery — housed in a revamped
garage, making it one of the coolest indoor-outdoor spaces in the city — typically offers three to
four of its own brews on tap, plus a rotating selection of guest taps. Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.

Next time you’re near the casino, head across the street to Siem Reap, a Cambodian restaurant
with a few Thai and Vietnamese influences, which opened in November. The lengthy, authentic menu is
easily navigable for novices with the help of the friendly staff members. Not to be missed are the
stuffed chicken wings ($8.25 for four) and the hot pot (which will serve three, so take along
friends). Open for lunch and dinner daily.

The much-anticipated Cameron Mitchell restaurant opened in February, and, for the first few
months, it was almost impossible to snag a table. The Pearl, an oyster-bar-meets-gastropub concept,
has lived up to the hype. The old-school setting — with great attention to detail (right down to
bills served in hard-cover books) — boasts a hearty list of cocktails (including barrel-aged
margaritas and Manhattans, and punch bowls). Food offerings can be chosen from a broad list of
upscale-yet-familiar fare, from bar snacks (such as deviled eggs) and starters (think cornbread and
house-made sausage) to entrees (from grilled cheese with pear, brie jam and pesto, $12; to hanger
steak with kimchee fried rice, $25). I’m looking forward to what new chef Ryan Rupe does with the
menu. Save room for pie, especially the Momofuku Milk Bar-inspired brown-sugar pie. Open for dinner
daily, brunch Saturdays and Sundays.

South of Lane

1987 Guilford Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-586-2233

South of Lane owner Catherine Vonderahe opened the breakfast spot in May to fill a void she saw
in her neighborhood. She wanted a place where locals could enjoy a good meal and a good cup of
coffee (she serves locally roasted Thunderkiss) and relax. So she created a homey cafe with
mismatched tables and chairs and a small collection of antiques and vintage finds for sale and
available for perusing while you wait for your meal. South of Lane serves sweet and crispy Belgian
waffles, omelets, breakfast sliders and the fun, you-know-you’ve-always-wanted-to-try PB2 — crunchy
peanut butter and bacon sandwiched inside a folded-over waffle. If you’re feeling especially
adventurous, upgrade to the PB3, which adds Nutella and sliced banana inside. Open for breakfast
and lunch Mondays through Saturdays.

Growing from a table at the Clintonville Farmers Market, Portia’s Cafe opened on the northern
edge of the Clintonville neighborhood in April, specializing in vegan, gluten-free and raw dishes
(unprocessed, raw foods not heated above 104 degrees). The menu by owner Portia Yiamouyiannis
features hummus and guacamole, falafel, raw soups (and some nonraw options, too, such as a
delicious stewlike coconut-curry soup), salads, smoothies and a hearty list of fresh wraps that can
be ordered wrapped in lettuce or house-made gluten-free tortillas. My favorite? The SuperPower
Lettuce Wrap with guacamole, falafel, onion, carrots, sprouts and raw creamy cashew dressing. Plus,
most dishes are less than $10, so it’s not too heavy a commitment if you want to give raw eating a
try. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays, lunch Sundays.